Door latch



Dec. 13, 1955 Filed May 25, 1953 B. A. QUINN DOOR LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR Dec. 13, 1955 QUINN 2,726,533

DOOR LATCH Filed May 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rig? 5916 i vc- 2,726,533Patented Dec. 13, 1955 DOOR LATCH Bert A. Quinn, St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 25, 1953, Serial No. 357,277

Claims. (Cl. 70-153) My invention relates to door latch construction andmore particularly to latches of the push-pull type utilizing handlemembers that swing generally in the direction of opening and closingmovements of the door.

Heretofore, in the installing of door latches of the type hereindisclosed, it has been necessary to cut out or mortise a fairly largenotch in one edge of a door or to bore a relatively large hole throughthe door for the reception of the door latch. In the case of storm orscreen doors, such notching or boring substantially weakens the door.This is particularly true where such latches are applied to metal doorssuch as aluminum, where the sections are relatively narrow and the metalis of light weight or thickness. An important object of my invention istherefore the provision of a door latch structure which requires the useof but a very small opening through the door for operating connectionsbetween the handles on opposite sides of the door.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a latch structurewhich may be locked from the inside but which will prevent the user frombeing accidentally locked outside of a dwelling. To this end I providemeans, whereby when the latch mechanism is locked while the door isopen, closing movements of the door will cause the latch mechanism tobecome unlocked.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel link meansconnecting the inner and outer door handles and of novel mechanism forsetting the link to lock the latch mechanism against movement.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel lockingwhich may be unlocked from the inside of the door simply by pressureapplied to the inner door handle member in one direction. I

A still further object of my invention is theprovision of latchmechanism as set forth which requires the use of but a single spring forbiasing the handles toward a predetermined position, the latch elementtoward a latch projected position and an inside locking member in adirection to hold the same in desired set positions.

Another object of my invention is the provision of door latchconstruction as set forth which is relatively simple and inexpensive toproduce and install, which is highly efiieient in operation, and whichis rugged in construction and durable in use.

The above and still further highly important objects and advantages ofmy invention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a door and door casingshowing my novel latch mounted on the door;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical sectiontaken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly invertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFig. 4, some parts being removed;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 6-6 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, some partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on theline 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on theline 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the parts shown in Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 12-12 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on theline 13-13 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 10 but showing a differentposition of some of the parts;

Fig. 15 is a view corresponding to Fig. 12 but showing a difierentposition of some of the parts; and

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on theline 16-16 of Fig. 9.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, a door 1 ismounted for opening and closing swinging movements, by conventionalhinges not shown, in a door frame 2 that forms a portion of a doorcasing 3. Preferably the door 1 swings to a closed position against oneedge portion of the frame 2 which provides a stop therefor.

My novel door latch includes a pair of outer and inner plate-likemounting brackets 4 and 5 respectively that are rigidly secured toopposite sides of the door 1 adjacent the free edge portion 6 thereof bymeans of machine screws or the like 7 extending through openings 8 inthe inner mounting bracket 5, similar openings 9 in the door 1 and screwthreaded into suitable threaded holes in the outer mounting bracket 4.The mounting brackets 4 and 5 are provided with aligned openings 10 and11 respectively that are axially aligned with an aperture 12 extendingtransversely through the door 1. The openings 10 and 11, as well as theaperture 12 in the door, are of relatively small diameter, being butslightly larger than the diameter of the holes through which themounting screws 7 extend. The purpose of the aligned openings 11 and 12will hereinafter become apparent. A pair of opposed outer and innerhandle members 13 and 14 respectively have opposed inner end portions 15and 16 respectively that are pivotally secured to their respectivemounting brackets 4 and 5 by means of pivot pins 17 and 18 extendingvertically through the inner end portions of the handles and havingtheir ends mounted in spaced ears or lugs 19 and 20 extending laterallyoutwardly from their respective mounting brackets 4 and 5. It will benoted that the pivot or'hinge pins 17 and 18 are disposed at one side oftheir respective handle end portions and in parallel relationship. Theinner end portion 15 of the outer handle member 13 is formed to providea lug 21 which engages an inturned lip 22 on the bracket 4 to positivelylimit swinging movement of the outer handle member 13 in one direction.

With reference particularly to Figs. 12, 13 and 15 it will be seen thatthe ears 20 of the inner mounting bracket 5 are integrally formed with aplate-like member 23 contained between the bracket 5 and the adjacentsurface of the door 1, said ears extending outwardly through verticallyspaced openings 24 in the mounting bracket 5. A second pair of ears 25integrally formed with I the plate 23 projects laterally outwardlythrough spaced openings 26 in the mounting bracket into a lateralopening 27 extending through the inner end portion of the inner handlemember :14. A latch element 28 is mounted for pivotal projecting andretracting movemerits through the opening '27 by means of a hinge pin 29extending transversely through the inner end of the -latchelement'28and-the spaced ears 25. "The latch element 28 is formed to provide -alatch hook 30 which is adapted to engage a strike 31 anchored to *the:door frame 2 by suitable means such as screws or the like 32. The hingepin 29 is preferably disposed 'in parallel relationship to the hingepins 17 and 18 whereby the latch element 28 will move in the same planeas the handle members 13 and 14. The latch element is yieldingly urgedin a projecting direction toward the strike 31 by a coil compressionspring 33 one end portion -of which is contained in a laterallyoutwardly opening recess 34 in the latch element 28 and the other end ofwhich bears against one end of an actuator 35, the purpose of which willhereinafter be described. The latch element 28 is provided with a notchor recess 36 that receives a retracting pin 37 anchored at its oppositeends in the inner end portion 16 of the handle member 14 and extendingvertically through the passage thereof. The swinging movement of thehandle element 14 toward the adjacent inner surface-of the door 1 causesthe retracting pin 37 to impart retracting movement to the latch element28 against bias of the spring 33. When the handle member 14 is released,the spring 33 will cause the latch element 28 to move in a latchprojecting direction toward the strike 31, engagement of the pin 37 bythe notch 36 causing the inner handle member 14 to be also swung fromits dotted line position of Fig. 5 to the :full line position thereof.

Mounted in the inner end portion 15 of the outer handle member 13 is aconventional cylinder-type lock 38 which is provided with a rotaryplug-like extension member 39 located in an inwardly opening cavity 40.The end of the plug 39 is formed to provide a notch 41. An elongatedrigid link 42 extends through the aligned openings 10 and 11 in themounting brackets 4 and 5 respectively and the aperture 12 therebetween.The outer end 43 of the link 42 abuts a surface portion 44 of the cavity40, and is provided with a depending leg 45 which, as shown in Figs. 6,10 and 11 is contained within the notch 41 of the plug extension member39. With further reference to Figs. 10, 11 and 14, it will be seen thatrotation of the plug extension member alternately in opposite directionswill cause opposite side wall portions of the notch 41 to engagealternately opposite side surface portions of the leg 45 to impartpartial rotation to the link 42 alternately in opposite directions.Rotation of the link 42 in one direction will cause the inner edgeportion 46 of the leg 45 to ride upon a stop means in the nature of aboss or the like 47 integrally formed with the outer mounting bracket 4,whereby to prevent longitudinal reciprocatory movement of the link 42 inthe direction of the inner handle member 14.

The inner end 48 of the rigid link 42 extends through a slot 49 in anangular crank element 50 that is formed to provide a bearing boss or thelike 51 journa'lled in the opening 11 in the inner mounting bracket 5for common rotary movement with the link 42. Said inner end 48 hasabutting engagement with an adjustment element in the nature of a screw52 that is screw threaded into the inner end portion 16 of the innerhandle member 14. Means for preventing accidental rotation of the screw52 comprises a friction bar or the like 53 contained in a slot 54, saidfriction bar 53 engaging the M threaded portion of said screw 52 at oneside thereof, see Figs. 9 and 16. The bar 53 is preferably made fromrubber-like material which does not prevent intentional turning of theadjustment :screw 52. The adjustment element 52 is utilized tocompensate for inaccuracies in the cutting of the link 42 when the latchis installed in a door, and enables the handle elements 13 and 14 to beproperly positioned at the time of installation of the latch.

The actuator 35 is generally rectangular in form and is slidably carriedby the inner mounting bracket 5 for movements toward and away from anadjacent surface portion 55 of the latch element 28. The actuator 35 isprovided with a central leg 56 that is formed to provide a notch 57which receives an outturned ear 58 on the angular crank member 50, seeFigs. 6, 12 and 15. Movement imparted manually to the actuator 35 towardthe latch member 28 causes rotation of the crank element "5%) and thelink 42 in a direction to move the edge portion 46 into engagement withthe stop lug 47. Simultaneously, the free end of the leg 56 moves intoabutting engagement with the surface portion 55 of the latch member 28as shown in Fig. 15. By this means, the door 1 may be locked from theinside and may be opened from the outside only by insertion of theproper key into the cylinder lock 38. The link 42 may be rotated to itsoperative unlocked position from the inside of the door 1 merely byswinging the inner handle member 14 toward the door 1 or from its fullline position of Fig. 5 to the dotted line position thereof. Thisswinging movement will 'cause the pin 37 to engage the botto'm'o'f thenotch 36 of the latch 28 with sufiicient pressure to cause the actuator35 to be moved outwardly to its unlocking position, causing the crankelement 50 to be rotated in adirection to move the leg 45 of the link 42out of engagement with the stop lug 47. The actuator '35 is guided "for"sliding movements with respect to the inner mounting bracket 5 by thehinge pin 18 extending through aligned slots 59, one of which is shown,in the sides of the actuator 35 and in the 'leg 56 thereof. Detent meansfor holding the actuator 35 against accidental movement either toward alocking position against the surface '55 of the latch element 28 or inthe opposite direction, comprises a pin 60 extending vertically throughthe lateral opening 27 in the handle member 14 and anchored at itsopposite ends in said handle, and a notch or recess 61 in an adjacentwall surface 62 of the actuator 35. Mounting of the hinge pin 18 in theslots 59 of the actuator 35 serves also to hold the crank element 5t) inits proper relationship with the mounting bracket 5. Other mountingmeans for the element 50 includes a laterally projected lug or car 63integrally formed with the crank element 50 and a slot 64 in themounting bracket 5 through which said car 63 extends. The slot 64 issufiicientlylong to permit oscillatory movements of the ear thereinduring the necessary rotation of the crank element 50 to move the link42 between its operative and inoperative positions. I further providecuplike cscutcheons "65 at the upper and lower ends of the inner and outermounting brackets 4 and 5 to protect the mechanisms against tamperingand to provide a decorative effect. The escutcheons 65 may be secured totheir respective'm'ounting brackets in any suitable manner. lre'fera'blythose on the inner mounting bracket '5 are displaced for the purpose ofinstallation of the latch. in use, when it is desired to open the door 1from the outside, assuming that the latch is unlocked, the handle member13 is simply pulled in generally a door opening 'direction. 'Thismovement of the outer handie mem her 13 imparts longitudinal movement tobe imparted to the link 42 and result in swinging movement of the innerhandle member 14 and retracting movement of the latch element 28.Obviously, when the door is to be opened from the inside, it is merelynecessary to push the inner handle member 14 generally in the directionof opening movement of the door 1. To lock the door from the inside itis merely necessary to move the actuator 35 from its released positionof Figs. 5. 6 and 12 to .its locking position .of Fig. 15 by relativelylight pressure thereon with the finger. The door can then be unlockedfrom the outside only with the aid of the proper key inserted into thecylinder lock 38. As above stated, the door may be unlocked from theinside merely by moving the handle member 14 toward the door. If byaccident the actuator 35 is positioned inwardly to lock the latch whenthe door is open, clos ng movements of the door will cause the latchelement 28 to be moved by the strike 31 in a retracting direction uponwhich the actuator 35 will be moved to its latch unlocked position. Thusthe occupant cannot be accidentally locked out-of-doors from this cause.

Among the advantages of my latch above described is the fact that thesingle spring 33 serves to urge the latch element 28 in a direction toengage the strike 31, and the handle members 13 and 14 toward one limitof their movement, and helps to maintain the actuator 35 in either ofits operative or inoperative positions. The laterally outwardly openingrecess 34 permits the spring 33 to be removed and replaced with ease andrapidity and without the necessity of dismantling the latch.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my novellatch mechanism, it will be understood that the same is capable ofmodification within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined inthe claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a push-pull door latch, inner and outer mounting brackets adaptedto be secured to opposite sides of a door adjacent one edge thereof,inner and outer handle members respectively pivotally secured to saidinner and outer mounting brackets, a latch element mounted on said innerbracket in close association with the inner handle member for projectingand retracting movements, yielding means biasing said latch element in alatch projecting direction, a rigid link adapted to extend throughopenings in said mounting brackets and a suitable aperture in the doorand mounted for limited rotary and reciprocatory movements therein, theopposite ends of said link being engaged with opposed portions of saidhandle members to be reciprocated thereby, whereby swinging movements ofone of said handle members in a given direction will cause correspondingswinging movement of the other of said handle members in the samedirection, and stop means engageable with said link upon rotationthereof in one direction to positively lock the same againstreciprocatory movement in one direction.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said stop means comprises astop lug on one of said mounting brackets, said link having an oifsetportion engaging said lug upon rotation of the link in said onedirection.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further combination with acylinder lock mounted in the outer handle member and engaging said linkto rotate the same between its operative reciprocatory position and itsinoperative locked position.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with meansfor imparting rotary movement to said link from its operativereciprocatory position to its inoperative locked position, said meanscomprising a crank element mounted on said inner bracket for commonrotary movement with said link and a manually operated actuator membercarried by said inner mounting bracket and having operative engagementwith said crank element.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which said crank element isprovided with a laterally outwardly projecting lug, and in which saidactuator member is mounted for sliding movements in said inner mountingbracket toward and away from the latch element, said actuator memberbeing provided with a notch for the reception of the lug on said crankelement.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in further combination with detentmeans normally maintaining said actuator member and crank element in aposition to hold said link at one limit of rotary movement thereof,whereby to permit reciprocatory movements of said link.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 in which the yielding means biasingsaid latch element in a latch projecting direction comprises a springhaving one end mounted on said actuator member and its other end bearingagainst said latch element.

8. In a push-pull door latch, opposed inner and outer handle members,means for mounting said handle members for swinging movements on theinner and outer sides of a door, a latch element adapted to be pivotallymounted on the door in close association with the inner handle memberfor projecting and retracting movements, yielding means biasing saidlatch element in a latch projecting direction, means on said innerhandle member engaging said latch element to retract the same againstthe bias of said yielding means, and a rigid link adapted to extendthrough a suitable aperture in the door between the opposed handlemembers and having abutting engagement at its opposite ends with opposedportions of said handle members whereby swinging movement of one of saidhandle members in a given direction will cause corresponding swingingmovement of the other of said handle members in the same direction, saidportion of the inner handle member comprising an adjustment elementmovable toward and away from the adjacent end of said link to vary thepositions of said handle members relative to each other.

9. The structure defined in claim 8 in which said adjustment elementcomprises a screw device mounted in said inner handle member, and infurther combination with a friction element mounted in said handlemembers for engagement with said screw device to frictionally anchor thesame against accidental movement.

10. In a push pull door latch, opposed inner and outer handle members,means for mounting said handle members for swinging movements on theinner and outer sides of a door, a latch element operatively associatedwith said inner handle and movable'in latch-projecting and retractingdirections, yielding means biasing said latch element and said innerhandle member in a latch-projecting direction, a rigid link adapted toextend through a suitable aperture in the door and mounted for limitedrotary and reciprocatory movements therein, the opposite ends of saidlink engaging opposed portions of said handle members to be reciprocatedthereby, whereby swinging movement of one of said handle members in agiven direction will cause corresponding swinging movement of the otherof said handle members in the same direction, and a stop elementengaging said link upon rotation thereof in one direction to positivelylock the same against reciprocatory movement in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,099,626 Stevenson June 9, 1914 1,705,122 Jones Mar. 12, 1929 2,012,732Schmidgall Aug. 27, 1935 2,167,594 Stratman July 25, 1939 2,311,685Olson Feb. 23, 1943 2,510,019 Holland May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS895,127 France Mar. 27, 1944

